Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (22) is tackled by New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty (32) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)— AP

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Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (22) is tackled by New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty (32) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
/ AP

fans look towards the midfield as Fergie sings the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)— AP

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fans look towards the midfield as Fergie sings the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
/ AP

MIAMI 
Reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady picked up where he left off a season ago, throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown to help the New England Patriots take a 14-7 halftime lead over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.

Chad Henne's 9-yard scoring run capped the Dolphins' first season-opening drive for a touchdown in 11 years, giving Miami the early lead. New England answered quickly, Brady's 46-yard pass to Matthew Slater setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

New England took the lead 51 seconds into the second quarter, Brady finding Rob Gronkowski with a 10-yard touchdown pass - the 262nd of the Patriots quarterback's career, moving him past Dave Krieg into 10th on the NFL list. Brady completed 14 of 22 passes in the half.

Brady got all 50 votes in last season's balloting for The Associated Press MVP award, the first person to be selected unanimously since media members began choosing the winner. He was 6 for 6 in the opening quarter, and had one long would-be gain to Gronkowski erased when new Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco was penalized for an illegal formation.

Henne - like Brady a former Michigan starter - was 11 for 15, good for 137 yards in the first half.

Monday's winner would keep pace with Buffalo and the New York Jets in the AFC East. Both opened with victories Sunday.

The Patriots lost center Dan Koppen with 1:18 left in the half with an injury to his lower left leg. Koppen was carted off the field and taken for X-rays.

Less than a half-minute later, the Dolphins' Jason Taylor was shaken up after getting stepped on and appearing to awkwardly turn his left ankle. Taylor writhed in pain on the grass for a few moments, then managed to limp to the sideline for treatment.

But even with Taylor out, Miami kept it a one-possession game heading into halftime. Cameron Wake sacked Brady on the Patriots' next to-last snap of the half, and Stephen Gostkowski's 48-yard field goal try missed with 2 seconds left before intermission.

The Dolphins had a star-studded series of pregame ceremonies, including orange-carpet arrivals for the likes of Fergie - a limited partner with the organization - and Hank Williams Jr. A statue of original Dolphins owner Joe Robbie was rededicated outside the stadium he built, and a flag was hoisted in honor of former Miami tight end and radio commentator Jim Mandich, who died of complications from cancer earlier this year.

And like in every stadium that hosted NFL games Sunday, the night was tinged with patriotism.

One day after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, each fan was handed an American flag upon entering the stadium. For the national anthem, 400 police officers and firefighters were invited onto the field to be recognized - their standing formation was in the shape of the letters U-S-A - followed by the flyover of a stealth bomber.

So on the field, there was stars and stripes power.

In the stands, there was considerable star power. Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade was in a suite, flanked by actor Will Smith, rapper Pitbull and singer Marc Anthony, another Dolphins limited partner.

The crowd stood and cheered when Miami converted a fourth-and-1 from the New England 21 on the opening drive, one capped by Henne getting just the second touchdown rushing of his career on a quarterback draw. A spectacular one-handed catch by tight end Anthony Fasano helped set up the Miami score.

But Brady, as always, was precise - and had a quick answer.

He completed his first eight passes Monday, and the touchdown to Gronkowski marked his 17th straight game with a scoring pass, two shy of his team record. Also chasing a piece of Patriots history is receiver Wes Welker, who now has catches in 62 straight regular-season games, one away from the team mark owned by former tight end Ben Coates.

Brady came into Monday with a streak of 335 consecutive passes without an interception, a string that began after he was picked off on a desperation heave into the end zone on the final play of regulation against Baltimore last Oct. 17.

The game also marked the official return of Taylor, the longtime Dolphins defensive stalwart who was given the honor of being introduced last - even though he was not actually listed among Miami's starters.

The Patriots beat the Dolphins twice, both easily, last season: 41-14 in Miami, then 38-7 in Foxborough.